64 OUR ISLAND STORY

much increased during the past few years; and whereas it is found impossible in the absence of‘ stone and gravel to keep the , roads in an efficient state of repair to render'easier the transport of the productions of the Colony, and whereas the construction_ and maintenance of a line of railway through the Island would greatly facilitate its trade, develop its resources, enlarge its rev- enue, and open more frequent and easy communication with the neighboring provinces and the United States;——resolved that a bill be introduced authorizing the Government to undertake" the construction of a railroad to extend from Cascumpec? to Georgetown, touching at Summerside and CharlottetOwn, and also branches to Souris and Tignish, at a cost not exceeding five thousand pounds currency per mile for construction, including ' all surveys and locating the same, and all suitable station‘s, sta- tion houses, sidings, turntables, rollingstock, fences and all the - necessary appliances suitable for a first—class railroad, and the construction of suitable wharves at Cascumpec, Summerside and Georgetown—provided the contractors for building and furnish- ing the said railroad accept in payment the Government Deben- tures of Prince Edward Island at thirty years par, without any' allowance for discount or otherwise.”

An amendment, alleging that the question of constructing a railway was not before the country at the preceding general election and that there were no petitions for the construction of a railway, was defeated in the House of Assembly by a major- ity of six; and the report of the Committee was adopted, seven- teen members voting for it and eleven against it.

A bill in accordance with the report was then introduced. On the 4th of April the bill was passed by the House; and, in due course. it was passed by the Legislative Council. When prorogu- ing the Legislature the Lieutenant Governor remarked that the “measures adopted during the session will cause it to be regarded as one of the most memorable in the annals of the COlony. Fore? ‘ most in importance is the Act authorizing the construction of a- railroad from Cascumpec to Georgetown. Without better means _. of transport and locomotion than at present exist, you could not- i

hope fully to develop the resources of this fertile and highly favor-